Life saving device



July 11, 1961 R. A. KUBACH LIFE SAVING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 4, 1959 INVENTOR.

RICHARD A. KUBACH ATTORNEYS Juiy 11, 1961 R. A. KUBACH LIFE SAVING DEVICE ZShets-Sheet 2 Filed Jun 4, 1959 INVENTOR.

RICHARD A. KUBACH BY Z ATTORNEYS United. States. Patent F 2,991,489 LIFE SAVING DEVIGE Richard A. Kubach, Sheflield Lake, Ohio (83 Gra-Gull', Avon Lake, Ohio) Filed June 4, 1959, Ser. No. 818,022 2 Claims. (Cl. 9--4) This invention relates generally to life saving devices, but has reference more particularly todevices of this character which are inthe form of a hollow sphere.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described, having means for effectively stabilizing the device while in heavy seas or under stormy weather conditions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described, in which the stabilizing means also strengthens and braces the sphere, and also act as means for supporting the deck of the device and other auxiliary parts.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described, having unique seating facilities.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described, having various appurtenances, facilities and auxiliary features which tend to increase the utility, convenience and comfort of the device, for the passengers or occupants of the device.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

FIG. 1 is a side or front elevational view of the lifesaving device;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the device;

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view, taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view, taken on the line 44 of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary horizontal cross-sectional View taken on the line 55 of FIG. 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the life saving device will be seen to comprise a hollow metallic sphere 1, the diameter of which may vary, in accordance with the number of occupants for which it has been designed, but which may for example, be of the order of about feet.

The sphere may be made of steel plate, whose thickness may vary from about A to about /2", and the plate may be made in sections which are riveted or welded to each other.

Disposed horizontally in the lower portion of the sphere are inverted channel-shaped structural steel cross-bracing or sphere strengthening members 2, 3 and 4, the Webs of which are coplanar with each other to form a supporting surface.

The member 2 extends through openings in the sides of the sphere, and the junctures of the member with such openings are welded to insure water-tight joints at such junctures. The members 3 and 4 are welded at their inner ends to the central portion of the member 2, extend perpendicularly to the latter, and like the member 2, extend through openings in the sides of the sphere, the junctures of the members 3 and 4 with such openings being welded to insure water-tight joints at such junctures.

The portions of the members 2, 3 and 4 which extend outside the sphere 1 have suspended therefrom, as by means of cables or chains 5', heavy weights, preferably, in the form of cast-iron or steel balls 6, the balls being disposed at such a point as to bring the center of gravity Patented. July- 11,

of the device toan extremely low level. The. balls. 6, being freely suspended from portions of the members. 2, 3 and 4, which are virtually outrigger members, are; highly effective, not only asan aidin the launching of the device, but as a means: of stabilizing or preventing rolling of the device in heavy seas or under stormy weather conditions.

In the absence of these suspended balls, the. sphere, irrespective of the location of its-center of gravity, would have a tendency not only to rock or roll, but to rotate about a vertical axis. I have found, however, that these balls are a substantial stabilizing aid in launching and using the device, as well as in rescue operations, in which the sphere is lifted from the Water.

The members 2, 3 and 4 also function as a support for a floor or deck 7 of the device, which extends across the lowerportion of the sphere, and is of circular form or shape.

The floor or deck 7, in turn, provides a support for an annular padded seat 8 for the occupants of the sphere, as well as a support for a central circular padded seat 9, which provides additional seating capacity for the occupants. The seats may be provided with safety belts (not shown). The spaces 10 and 11 beneath these seats pro- 'vide storage space for water rations, firstaid equipment and supplies, flares, radio, batteries, etc., and the space 12 beneath the deck 7 provides room for ballast, if required, and a compressed air tank.

Reference numeral 13 designates a chemical toilet, a portion of which extends through the deck 7, as shown in FIG. 3.

The device further comprises an eye 14, for launching the device and pulling or hoisting the device from the water, an air vent 15, a fiare tube 16, a red flasher light 17, an exterior ladder 18, leading to a water-tight hatch 19, an interior ladder 20, and glass-covered portholes 21. The device may be further equipped with exterior and interior lights (not shown).

It is thus seen that I have provided a device of this character, having means for effectively stabilizing the device while in heavy seas and under stormy weather conditions, in which the stabilizing means also strengthens and braces the device as a whole and acts as a means for supporting the deck of the device and other auxiliary parts, which has unique seating facilities, and which has various other auxiliary features which tend to increase the utility, convenience and comfort of the device, for the passengers or occupants of the device.

The device may be launched manually, or by means of mechanical equipment or devices, and will float under virtually any and all conditions. It may also be provided with suitable facilities, which are not shown, for providing heat to the occupants.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention, herewith shown and described, is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes may be made in the shape, size and arrangement of parts thereof, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A device of the character described, comprising a hollow sphere, a cross-member extending horizontally across the center of the lower portion of said sphere and through the walls of said sphere to points spaced from said sphere, additional horizontal cross-members secured to and extending perpendicularly from the central portion of said first-named cross-member and through the Walls of said sphere to points spaced from said sphere, ball-shaped stabilizing weights flexibly suspended from said cross-members exteriorly of said sphere, adjacent said points, a deck supported by the portions of said crossmembers within said sphere, a central circular seat within said sphere supported on said deck, and an annular seat supported on said deck, adjacent the inner wall of said sphere and in concentric spaced relation to said firstnamed seat, whereby toprovide leg room between said seats, an exterior ladder extending from and supported on the exterior surface of said sphere, a water-tight entrance hatch for said sphere adjacent the upper end of said ladder, and a second ladder extending from said hatch and downwardly into said sphere.

2. A device, as defined in claim 1, in which said crossmembers are inverted channel-shaped members, the web portions of which are substantially coplanar with each other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

